'Who Holds Hands, Takes 1000s Pics With...?': Polish Woman Hits Back At People Calling Her Indian Husband As Driver Or Tour Guide

A Polish woman living in India has sparked conversation online after calling out an unacceptable remark she says she faces far too often — people mistaking her Indian husband for a driver or tour guide.

Gabriela, who frequently posts travel and lifestyle content with her husband Hardik Varma, shared a video on Instagram addressing the awkward encounters they’ve experienced while exploring different places in India.

“To all the Indians assuming my husband is my tour guide/driver... The most awkward moment whenever we come to a new place in India,” she shared, seated beside Hardik on a sofa. “We wouldn’t talk about it, but sadly, it is NOT a rare occurrence anymore.”

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She explained how “basically every second shopkeeper or taxi/auto driver assumes that Hardik is my tour guide — and in some circumstances, my driver.” Gabriela appeared visibly upset in the video, and the frustration was evident in her tone, "What was rude. What was pretty f**king rude".

In her caption, she went on to ask a pointed question to hit back at those who didn't believe Hardik and she were dating, “Which girl walks around keeping hands and taking 1000s pictures with her tour guide??”

The couple, who are known for sharing joyful snippets of their life — from sipping coconut at roadside stalls to going on bike rides to explore the country — have built a good following on Instagram.

More posts by Gabriela and Hardik

Gabriela often expresses her admiration for Indian culture through her posts. In one recent reel, she told her 36,800 followers about how she learned to wear a saree, a desi thing she found challenging at first.

“Saying it took me 5 years to learn it — I mean, after 5 years of dating my husband, I can finally drape a saree on my own and make it look good enough to go out like this", she posted.

While many fans flooded the comments with support, some admitted they’d seen similar judgements faced by other interracial or intercultural couples in India.